What a wonderfully eccentric, mad little book. I really could leave this review there, couldn’t I? Because who needs an introduction to the sheer magic that is the Phantom Tollbooth. I can still recall the first time this book took me on its wild trip into the Lands Beyond and I’m sure many of you can too.
Well, recently, feeling rather nostalgic, I’ve been having a bit of a children’s books binge- so of course, being an absolute classic, I had to pick this up. And WOW. It’s even better than I remembered.
On one level, it is an adventure story, pure and simple. Yet it doesn’t take long to delve beneath the surface and see the play on words- both figuratively and literally (visually toying with them on the page)- and find that at its heart this book offers so much more than a regular children’s story.
Language in the world of the Phantom Tollbooth is more than just a tool: it is a window into the wacky absurdity of the universe. Folded up within the pages of the book, the weird and wonderful glory of the world is revealed. Through the eyes of one bored boy, the reader is led on a journey to enlightenment. Thus Phantom Tollbooth teaches us to value our own existence.
And that is where the true charm of the book lies. Here, we get to discover the marvels of reality, the beauty of simple things and the power of imagination. Here, we get to see the importance of learning itself and just how much the world has to offer.
To say so much in such a small space makes this one of the most powerful children’s books of all time. And that’s why every child needs a phantom tollbooth.
Rating: 5/5 bananas
Have you read this? Do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!
The Phantom Tollbooth was one of my favourite books as a kid. I haven’t read it since. I really must!
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Oh definitely- it’s really worth revisiting 🙂
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Having just re-read this for the first time in decades this year, I heartily concur with everything you said. It is a wonderful book!
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Yes!! I know right!! 😀
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Okay call me intrigued. I never read this one, but with this much enthusiasm and you giving it your signature 5 banana star rating (lol 😂) I just have to add this one to my to read list. 😀
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Well great!! I really hope you like it if you check it out!! It’s so good!! hahaaha
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The title sounds familiar but I don’t think I’ve ever read this. Based on this post I’m thinking I really should.
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Oh well if you haven’t read it (or even if you have and have forgotten it) it’s well worth picking up!!
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I so need to read this one! I can’t remember if I read it as child or not…
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Oh it’s the best! Definitely worth checking out either way 😀
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This was my fave as a kid! I loved all the play on language, and it was just so fun and creative!
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Ahh I know it’s amazing!!
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Oh I loved this one as a kid. I remember they started reading it aloud at a library thing when I was about five but never finished it. I HAD to know what happened so I brought home a copy. It was fantastic, an instant favourite.
A few decades later, when my son was little, I read it aloud to him. Like you, I really enjoyed revisiting it with the mind of an adult. I missed so much when I was little!
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Ahh yes it’s amazing!! I totally get that! And those are both lovely stories 😀 And yes, there’s so much more to it that you don’t pick up on as a child, which makes it so amazing to revisit.
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I’ve never read this, but it is one that we picked up for free recently, at my husband’s recommendation. Looks like I’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Oh definitely check it out! It’s so worth it!
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I love this book, I love this book, I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is sitting upstairs in my bedroom right now and you just made me want to read it again. Thank you.
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AHH I KNOW RIGHT!! It’s amazing!!! 😊😊😊
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I don’t remember every coming across this book before, but it sounds great. Thanks for reviewing it! I’ll have to check this one out 🙂
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Ah I’m really glad you want to check this one out 😁
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I’ve never come across this one before. You’re review makes I clear that I must rectify this at once.
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Ah it’s so worth it!!
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How’d you get 46 likes and 12 comments in 6 hours? The Phantom Tollbooth was good, though. It also was a bit odd.
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It is unusual 😉
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Absolutely. Congratulations, though.
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hehe I meant the book is unusual.
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Oh, so should you make a positive review of the Phantom Tollbooth if you want to get a bunch of likes? (Ha, ha, ha. Hee, hee, hee. Ho, ho, ho?)
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I’m not familiar with this one but it sounds like a good one. 🙂
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Oh it’s great 😊
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Cool idea to revisit children’s books you enjoyed! I’m glad you still liked it 🙂
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Ah thank you 😊
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Wow, this sounds absolutely perfect! I love children’s books and this one looks so magical and lovely. The kind that will make you completely enchanted for days.
Your review made me really want to go and get it ASAP. Great review 😊
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It really is excellent 😊 This book is totally one of those and I really hope you like it!! Thank you! 😊
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What a stunning and beautiful review! After Bookstooge raving about it, and now you praising it, I think I should definitely find myself a copy ASAP! Love the sound of it all. 😀
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Aww thank you!! Definitely worth reading! It’s such a unique, brilliant book!! 😀
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Oh, I loved this book so much. It was completely bonkers, but there was a kind of internal consistency throughout all of it, and I loved all the different characters- though the Humbug has a special place in my heart, what with “always managing to be first with the wrong answer.” This makes me want to revisit it for next year, even though my TBR pile is nuts.
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Yes one hundred percent agree!! hehehe oh yes!! hehe I totally get that, I saw one review for this and had to reread it immediately 😉
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This is such a great book. I remember reading it as a kid and thinking it was one of the most unique things I’d ever read and if, at the time, I had really understood what “clever” meant, I would have called it that. I re-read it a few years ago with my daughter and it was so fun to watch her little face as she also fell in love with this book. Thanks for writing about this. Now I want to read it again! It’s been a few years.
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Thank you so much!! I totally agree with you!! Oh that’s so lovely!! Thank you for sharing!! hehe I completely get that- I saw a few reviews about for this and that definitely inspired me to pick it up.
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Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for reading 🙂
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Great post! I absolutely adored this novel as a kid! It’s definitely one I hope I can revisit it soon!
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Thank you so much!! Me too- I was really happy to revisit it and recommend doing that for sure.
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